Friday, July 19, 2013

I haven't had too much time to sew this week, even though it's one of my most inspirational sewing events...Kids Clothes Week. What I made for the past several days is another version of my "flipped" Oliver + S Roller Skate tunic.

I used some adorable Kokka seersucker from my shop. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it - it has teeny foxes and other indeterminate animals on it - Julia first said they were moles, then bunnies....well, here it is - you decide:

Here's the outfit...

My kid flipped out when she saw the shorts - not in a good way - and swore up and down that they were "brown" and that she wouldn't wear them. She had to poll all her siblings and her father, then she believed me that they are not brown, but plum. The shorts are made from the Oliver + S Bedtime Story pajamas pattern....I like using it for shorts because there's no side seam. Julia quite likes the pockets on these, now that she believes that they are not brown.

I lined the tunic with a sheet I stole from my older kids....they never use the flat sheet, and this one was a nice light microfiber one - I bet it feels great on!

We just took a walk to the candy store down on Second Street - the "business corridor" in my neighborhood....she got a ton of compliments on her outfit while walking down the street....made me feel pretty good!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

If you haven't heard, Kid's Clothes Week is having a summer edition! They have a great new website that they're developing that is going to be AMAZING! Their new website is www.kidsclothesweek.com - certainly worth a look when you get a chance.

I'm starting out really slowly this time. For my first project, I made yet another gift bag...I swear I think we go to a birthday party or two every weekend. I know my kid has a good time, so I merrily go along with her....to pool parties, reptile parties, amusement parks, gymnastics parties, and on and on and on...

This is it....this is all I've got and it's the end of day two, I believe. During the week, I get really limited sewing time at the end of the day, cause, well, my kid expects me to pay attention to her. So, I do.

This fabric is Anne Kelle's Girlfriend line - the most adorable princesses you can ever find! Again, it's the Drawstring Bag from Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson.

I have another project - more exciting - cut out and ready to go. Really, my goal is to get the other outfit done by the end of this week, and I'll be happy. We'll see....

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

This flipped creation was designed by my three-and-a-half year old. I told her I was going to be in a contest to "flip" a pattern - specifically, the Roller Skate Dress and Tunic by Oliver + S. Since I already had two Roller Skate dresses in her closet (one well worn, and the other barely worn) I showed her the dresses, and asked her opinion as to what I could make it into.

She requested a cheerleader outfit.

Which brings us to the debate. Julia says she wants to be a cheerleader. Whenever she says that, to anyone in our house, we groan. No offense meant to any past or future cheerleaders, but why would you want to cheer for someone doing a sport - wouldn't you rather do the sport yourself? Yes, I have this philosophical debate quite often with my three-and-a-half year old....

So, I made her both - an outfit to CHEER, and an outfit to PLAY!

Here's the pieces:

For the "Flip" part, I embellished the top with some heavy duty applique work. For anyone who doesn't happen to be a basketball fan, this is the logo of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. I removed the cap sleeve, added my daughter's favorite sleeve - the flutter sleeve.

I changed the elastic casing to elasticize only the sides, and added ties. For the shorts, I used the Oliver + S Sleepover Pajama bottom pattern piece. I eliminated the waistband, and it turned out to hit my daughter exactly where she likes to wear her shorts; not too high on the waist. For the skirt, I used the Oliver + S 2+2 pattern, and embellished the bottom with grosgrain ribbon. The fabric for the top is Robert Kaufman Kona cotton - the skirt and shorts are a cotton twill.

Basketball button on the back, tattoo on the arm.....ready to Play....or Cheer!!

Thanks so much to Emily and Ashley of the famed duo of Frances Suzanne for inviting me to play along! I seriously appreciate it - and, I had a ton of fun!!